Home Appliance Device

ABSTRACT

For the purpose of improving an efficiency a home appliance device, in particular a home chiller appliance device, is proposed. The device includes a housing delimiting an insulation space; a heating unit arranged inside the insulation space; and a heat transfer element arranged inside the insulation space, the heat transfer element contacting at least partly the heating unit and at least partly the housing for transferring heat from the heating unit to the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a home appliance device, in particular a homechiller appliance device.

WO 2007/062909 discloses a home appliance device which comprises ahousing delimiting an insulation space, a heating unit arranged insidethe insulation space and a supporting element which supports the housingand is arranged inside the insulation space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is, in particular, to provide a homeappliance device with improved characteristics regarding efficiency.This objective is achieved, according to the invention, as claimed,while further implementations and further developments of the inventionmay be gathered from the dependent claims.

A home appliance device, in particular a home chiller appliance device,is proposed comprising: a housing delimiting an insulation space; aheating unit arranged inside the insulation space; and a heat transferelement which is arranged inside the insulation space and contacts atleast partly the heating unit and at least partly the housing fortransferring heat from the heating unit to the housing.

By means of the invention in particular an efficiency of the homeappliance device can be improved. Typically by means of the heattransfer element heat from the heating unit can be used to preventfurther components of the home appliance device from icing up and/orcondensing. As a result, in particular energy efficiency can beimproved, as heat can be directed to specific locations at the housing,without affecting an insulation effect.

In this context, “configured” is in particular to mean specificallyprogrammed, designed and/or equipped. By an object being configured fora certain function is in particular to be understood that the objectimplements and/or fulfills said certain function in at least oneapplication state and/or operating state. A “home appliance device” isin particular to be understood as a portion, preferably a subassemblygroup, of a home appliance. The home appliance is, in this context, inparticular provided for storing and preferably tempering victuals suchas beverages, in particular alcoholic beverages such as wine, meat,fish, vegetables, fruits, milk and/or dairy products in at least oneoperating state, advantageously for the purpose of enhancing a qualityand/or a storage life of the stored victuals. For example, the homeappliance is embodied as a home chiller appliance, which is in at leastone operating state configured for cooling victuals. The home chillerappliance could in particular be embodied as a climate cabinet, anice-box, a wine-cooler, a freezer and/or a refrigerator-freezercombination. The home chiller appliance may be embodied as arefrigerator. However, the home appliance could also be embodied as ahome appliance for warming and in particular for cooking victuals, e.g.an oven, a cooker and/or a microwave.

The housing comprises in particular an inner liner and an outer liner.The inner liner delimits in particular a storage space of the homeappliance device. The storage space is in particular a space inside thehome appliance device, which is provided for storing victuals. The outerliner delimits the home appliance device to an environment. The innerliner and/or the outer liner are/is at least partly or at least mostlyor entirely made of metal, in particular sheet metal. Alternatively oradditionally the inner liner and/or the outer liner may be at leastpartly or at least mostly or entirely made of plastic, in particular athermoplastic. The term “at least mostly” with reference to an object isin particular to mean by more than 50% or by more than 65% or by morethan 80% or by more than 95% of an object, in particular a surface areaand/or a volume and/or a mass of the object.

Further the housing comprises a door frame on which, in a closed stateof the home appliance door, a home appliance door of the home appliancedevice may rest in a flat position. In particular, the door frame maypreferably be directly connected to the inner liner and/or the outerliner. For example the door frame is at least partly, or at least mostlyor entirely made of plastic, e.g. a thermoplastic. Alternatively oradditionally the inner liner and/or the outer liner may be at leastpartly, or at least mostly or entirely made of plastic, e.g. athermoplastic.

The housing comprises in particular a side element. The side element isin particular configured for reducing a heat transfer between the innerliner and the outer liner. The side element connects the door frame tothe outer liner. The side element is in particular at least partly or atleast mostly or entirely made of plastic, e.g. thermoplastic. Forexample the side element is manufactured by means of extrusion, inparticular plastic extrusion.

In this context, the term “connected” is in particular to mean connectedin a form-fit and/or force-fit manner. The term “fixed in a force-fitand/or form-fit manner” is in particular to mean preferably fixedreleasably, wherein a holding force between two structural components ispreferably transferred via a geometric engagement of the structuralcomponents with each other and/or preferably via a friction force actingbetween the structural components. Alternatively or additionally aconnection may be provided by substance-to-substance bond, preferably anadhesive and/or cohesive connection.

In particular, the inner liner, the side element, the door frame and/orthe outer liner together define the insulation space. The insulationspace is in particular configured for reducing a heat transfer from anenvironment of the home appliance device to the storage space of thehome appliance device. The insulation space is in particular filled withan insulation means, in particular foam, preferably polymer foam, inparticular polyurethane foam.

In this context, a “heating unit” is in particular to be understood as aunit which is configured for producing heat and which is preferablyspecifically used to prevent further components of the home appliancedevice, in particular of the home appliance door and or the housing, inparticular the side element, from condensing and/or icing up. Inparticular, the heating unit may be embodied as a heat pipe and mayextend for example at least substantially parallel to a main extensiondirection of the housing. For example the heating unit extends alongsidethe door frame. In this context, “at least substantially parallel” is inparticular to be understood as an orientation of a direction withrespect to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein thedirection and the reference direction include an angle of 0°, theorientation in particular having a deviation of less than 15°,advantageously of less than 10° and particularly advantageously of lessthan 2°.

In this context, a “heat transfer element” is in particular to beunderstood as an element which is configured for transferring heat andwhich comprises in particular a thermal conductivity of at least 10W/(m·K) or of at least 50 W/(m·K) or of at last 100 W/(m·K) or of atleast 200 W/(m·K). The heat transfer element is in particularimplemented separately from the housing and/or the heating unit. Theheat transfer element is in particular at least partly or at leastmostly or entirely made of metal, e.g. iron, steel, aluminum and/orcopper. In this context, a “contact” is in particular to be understoodas a thermal contact of at least two objects, wherein preferably thethermal contact has a thermal contact conductivity of at least 1 W/(m·K)or of at least 10 W/(m·K) or of at least 50 W/(m·K) or of at least 100W/(m·K).

Further, the heat transfer element, in particular a cross section of theheat transfer element, can have at least one or at least two or aplurality of undulation/s. The undulation may for example comprise atleast one or at least two or a plurality of, in particular differentamplitudes and/or wavelengths. The undulation may at least section-wiseat least be substantially meander-shaped. In this context, an undulationbeing “at least substantially meander-shaped” is in particular to beunderstood as an undulation which comprises at least two consecutiveturns and/or twists. As a result of this, in particular a stability ofthe heat transfer element can be improved in an efficient manner withoutthe use of additional components.

For the purpose of further improving stability, it is proposed that theundulation may have an amplitude extending at least substantiallyperpendicularly to a main extension of the heat transfer element. A“main extension” of an object is, in particular, to be understood as alargest extension of an imaginary rectangular cuboid which only justentirely encloses the object and which preferably extends through ageometric center of the object. In this context, “at least substantiallyperpendicular” is in particular to mean an orientation of a directionwith respect to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, whereinthe direction and the reference direction include an angle of 90°, theorientation having in particular a deviation of less than 15°,advantageously of less than 10° and particularly advantageously of lessthan 2°.

In a further implementation of the invention it is proposed that theundulation may have an amplitude extending at least substantiallyperpendicularly to a main direction of a heat transfer. In this context,a “main direction of a heat transfer” is in particular to be understoodas a direction of a shortest connecting route of two objects which areconnected by means of the heat transfer element, the connecting routepreferably comprising the greatest thermal conductivity and/or thermalcontact conductivity. As a result of this, in particular homogeneity ofthe heat transfer can be increased.

It is also proposed that the heat transfer element may have at least oneor at least two contact areas, in particular thermal contact areas, withthe housing, in particular with the side element. As a result of this,in particular a heat transfer can be further improved.

The heat transfer element can have a substantially constantcross-section along its main extension. In this context “substantially”is in particular to be understood as not considering a differentcross-section at one end region or both end regions of the heat transferelement, whereas an end region can be specified as 10% of the length ofthe heat transfer element measured from the respective end. Also“substantially” in this context shall not exclude recesses or openingsor through-holes within the heat transfer element. In particular, theundulation or undulations shall be considered as forming thecross-section in this context.

For the purpose of improving heat transfer, it is proposed that thehousing, in particular the side element, may comprise at least one or atleast two or a plurality of protrusion/s, which protrude/s into theinsulation space and provide/s at least one or at least two or aplurality of contact area/s, in particular the before-mentioned contactareas, for contacting the heat transfer element. The protrusion may havein particular an at least substantially square shaped cross-section.

In addition, it is proposed that the home appliance device may furthercomprise a supporting element which supports the housing and which mayat least partly or at least mostly or entirely embodied by the heattransfer element. The supporting element comprises in particular a mainextension which is at least substantially parallel to a main extensionof the housing. As a result of this, in particular a stability of thehome appliance device can be improved in a simple manner.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the home appliance device may furthercomprise a fixing unit for fixing the heat transfer element to thehousing, in particular to the side element. In particular, the fixingunit may fix the heat transfer element to the housing, in particular tothe side element, at least in a form-fit manner. Alternatively oradditionally the fixing unit may fix the heat transfer element to thehousing, in particular to the side element, in a force-fit manner. Thefixing unit may in particular be at least partly implemented integrallywith the housing, in particular the side element, and/or the heattransfer element. “Implemented integrally” is in particular to mean, inthis context, connected at least by substance-to-substance bond, e.g. bya welding process, an adhesive bonding, an injection-molding processand/or by another process that is deemed expedient by a person havingordinary skill in the art. “Implemented integrally” could in particularmean made of one piece. “Made of one piece” is, in particular, to mean,in this context, manufactured from one single piece, e.g. by productionfrom one single cast and/or by manufacturing in a one-component ormulti-component injection-molding process, for example from a singleblank. The fixing unit comprises in particular a first fixing elementand a corresponding second fixing element, which cooperate for fixingthe heat transfer element to the housing, for example to the sideelement. The heat transfer element can comprise a second section whichat least partly embodies the first fixing element. The housing, inparticular the side element, can comprise a first section which at leastpartly embodies the second fixing element. The second section can atleast be substantially u-shaped. The side element may at least partlyencompass the heat transfer element. For example, the first section ofthe side element may encompass the second section of the heat transferelement. As a result, in particular the heat transfer element can befixed to the housing in a simple way.

Herein the home appliance device is not to be limited to the applicationand implementation described above. In particular, for the purpose offulfilling a functionality herein described, the home appliance devicemay comprise a number of respective elements, structural components andunits that differs from the number mentioned herein. Furthermore,regarding the value ranges mentioned in this disclosure, values withinthe limits mentioned are to be understood to be also disclosed and to beused as applicable.

Further details may become apparent from the following description ofthe drawing. In the drawing exemplary embodiments of the invention areshown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain a pluralityof features in combination. The person having ordinary skill in the artwill purposefully also consider the features separately and will findfurther expedient combinations.

If there is more than one specimen of a certain object, only one ofthese is given a reference numeral in the figures and in thedescription. The description of this specimen may be correspondinglytransferred to the other specimens of the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 a home appliance comprising a home appliance device, in aschematic perspective view,

FIG. 2 a portion of the home appliance device, comprising a housing, ina cross-sectional top view, and

FIG. 3 a portion of the home appliance device, comprising the housing,in a cross-sectional perspective view, and

FIG. 4. a portion of an alternative home appliance device, comprising ahousing, in a cross-sectional perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a home appliance 34 a comprising a home appliance device,in a schematic perspective view. The home appliance 34 a is embodied asa refrigerator. The home appliance 34 a could further be embodied as anyother home appliance deemed advantageous by someone skilled in the art,e.g. a climate cabinet, an ice-box, a freezer, a wine-cooler and/or arefrigerator-freezer combination.

The home appliance device comprises a housing 10 a. The housing 10 acomprises two side walls 44 a. For the sake of clarity, in the followingonly one side wall 44 a is given a reference numeral and is described indetail. The following description may be transferred to the further sidewall 44 a accordingly. The two side walls 44 a are arranged opposite oneanother. The housing 10 a further comprises a bottom wall 46 a, a topwall 48 a and a rear wall 50 a. The home appliance device comprises ahome appliance door 36 a.

The housing 10 a comprises an inner liner 40 a. The inner liner 40 adelimits a storage space 38 a of the home appliance device. The storagespace 38 a is a space inside the home appliance device and is providedfor storing victuals. The inner liner 40 a is at least partly,preferably at least mostly and advantageously entirely made of metal, inparticular sheet metal. Alternatively or additionally the inner linerand/or the outer liner may be at least partly, preferably at leastmostly and advantageously entirely made of plastic, in particular athermoplastic.

The housing 10 a comprises an outer liner 42 a. The outer liner 42 adelimits the home appliance device to an environment. The outer liner 42a is at least partly, preferably at least mostly and advantageouslyentirely made of metal, in particular sheet metal. Alternatively oradditionally the inner liner and/or the outer liner may be at leastpartly, preferably at least mostly and advantageously entirely made ofplastic, in particular a thermoplastic.

Further the housing 10 a comprises a door frame 52 a. In a closed stateof the home appliance door 36 a, the home appliance door 36 a rests in aflat position on the door frame 52 a. Advantageously the door frame isat least partly, preferably at least mostly and advantageously entirelymade of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic. Alternatively oradditionally the inner liner and/or the outer liner may be at leastpartly, preferably at least mostly and advantageously entirely made ofplastic, in particular a thermoplastic. The door frame 52 a is directlyconnected to the inner liner 40 a. The door frame 52 a is indirectlyconnected to the outer liner 42 a.

The housing 10 a comprises in particular a side element 32 a. The sideelement 32 a is in particular configured for reducing a heat transferbetween the inner liner 40 a and the outer liner 42 a. The side element32 a connects the door frame 52 a to the outer liner 42 a. The sideelement 32 a is at least partly, preferably at least mostly andadvantageously entirely made of plastic, in particular thermoplastic.The side element 32 a is manufactured by means of extrusion, inparticular plastic extrusion.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show different cross-sectional views of the side wall 44 aof the home appliance device. The housing 10 a, in particular the outerliner 42 a, the inner liner 40 a, the side element 32 a and/or the doorframe 52 a defines an insulation space 12 a. The insulation space 12 ais configured for reducing a heat transfer from an environment of thehome appliance device to the storage space 38 a of the home appliancedevice. The insulation space 12 a is filled with an insulation means, inparticular foam, preferably polymer foam, in particular polyurethanefoam.

The home appliance device comprises a heating unit 14 a. The heatingunit 14 a is arranged inside the insulation space 12 a. The heating unit14 a contacts the housing 10 a, in particular the door frame 52 a. Theheating unit 14 a is configured for producing heat and is specificallyused to prevent further components of the home appliance device, inparticular of the home appliance door 36 a and/or the housing 10 a, inparticular the side element 32 a, from condensing and/or icing up. Theheating unit 14 a is embodied as a heat pipe. The heating unit 14 aextends at least substantially parallel to a main extension direction ofthe housing 10 a. Further, the heating unit 14 a extends alongside thedoor frame 52 a.

The home appliance device comprises a heat transfer element 16 a. Theheat transfer element 16 a is arranged inside the insulation space 12 a.The heat transfer element 16 a is configured for transferring heat. Theheat transfer element 16 a has a thermal conductivity of at least 10W/(m·K). The heat transfer element 16 a is implemented separately fromthe housing 10 a. The heat transfer element 16 a is implementedseparately from the heating unit 14 a. The heat transfer element 16 a isat least partly made of steel.

The heat transfer element 16 a contacts at least partly the heating unit14 a. The heat transfer element 16 a contacts at least partly thehousing 10 a, in particular the side element 32 a. The heat transferelement 16 a transfers heat from the heating unit 14 a to the housing 10a, in particular the side element 32 a. For contacting the heat transferelement 16 a, the side element 32 a comprises a plurality of protrusions26 a. The protrusions 26 a protrude towards the insulation space 12 a.The protrusions 26 a each provide a contact area 22 a for contacting theheat transfer element 16 a. In the present case the heat transferelement 16 a has at least two contact areas 22 a with the side element32 a.

The home appliance device comprises a fixing unit 33 a for fixing theheat transfer element 16 a to the housing 10 a, in particular the sideelement 32 a. The fixing unit 33 a fixes the heat transfer element 16 ato the housing 10 a, in particular to the side element 32 a, at least ina form-fit manner. Alternatively or additionally the fixing unit fixesthe heat transfer element to the housing in a force-fit manner. Thefixing unit 33 a is in particular at least partly implemented integrallywith the heat transfer element 16 a and at least partly implementedintegrally with the housing 10 a, in particular the side element 32 a.The fixing unit 33 a comprises a first fixing element 54 a. The fixingunit 33 a comprises a second fixing element 56 a. The second fixingelement 56 a contacts the first fixing element 54 a. The first fixingelement 54 a and the second fixing element 56 a cooperate for fixing theheat transfer element 16 a to the housing 10 a, in particular to theside element 32 a.

The side element 32 a embodies the second fixing element 54 a. The sideelement 32 a comprises a first section which embodies the second fixingelement 54 a. The second fixing element 54 a least partly encompassingthe heat transfer element 16 a. The heat transfer 16 a embodies thefirst fixing element 56 a. The heat transfer element 16 a comprises asecond section which at least partly embodies the first fixing element56 a. In particular the second section is at least substantiallyu-shaped. The second section of the heat transfer element 16 aencompasses the first section of the side element 32 a.

The heat transfer element 16 a has at least one undulation 18 a. Theundulation 18 a is at least section-wise at least substantiallymeander-shaped. The undulation 18 a has an amplitude 20 a. The amplitude20 a extends at least substantially perpendicularly to a main extensionof the heat transfer element 16 a. The amplitude 20 a extends at leastsubstantially perpendicularly to a main direction of a heat transfer.

The home appliance device further comprises a supporting element 30 a.The supporting element 30 a supports the housing 10 a. The supportingelement 30 a is embodied by the heat transfer element 16 a.

FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention. Thefollowing description is substantially limited to the differencesbetween the exemplary embodiments, wherein regarding structuralelements, features and functions that remain the same, the descriptionof the other exemplary embodiment, in particular the exemplaryembodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, may be referred to. For distinguishing theexemplary embodiments, the letter a of the reference numerals in theexemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 has been substituted by the letterb in the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4.Regarding structural elements having the same denomination, inparticular regarding structural elements having the same referencenumerals, principally the drawing and/or the description of the otherexemplary embodiment, in particular of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.1 to 3, may be referred to.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a further home appliance device comprising aheat transfer element 16 b. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 differsfrom the preceding exemplary embodiment at least substantially by theimplementation of the heat transfer element 16 b. The heat transferelement 16 b contacts a heating unit 14 b of the home appliance devicefrom a lateral side. The heat transfer element 16 b further contacts adoor frame 52 b. The heat transfer element 16 b contacts the door frame52 b in a vicinity of a contact between the heat transfer element 16 band the heating unit 14 b. In a vicinity of the door frame 52 b theshape of the heat transfer element 16 b is equivalent to a shape of thedoor frame 52 b.

Further the heat transfer element 16 b comprises at least one embossedelement 58 b. The embossed element 58 b is embodied by an undulation 18b of the heat transfer element 16 b. The undulation 18 b may inparticular be produced by a stamping and/or bending process. The heattransfer element 16 b comprises at least one recess 60 b in form of anopening or through-hole. In the present case the heat transfer element16 b comprises four recesses 60 b. These recesses 60 b allow insulationmaterial to enter a slit-like cavity formed between the side element 32b and the heat transfer element 16 b. Alternatively or additionally theheat transfer element 16 b may comprise a different number of recesses60 b and/or embossed elements 58 b, as considered advantageously tosomeone skilled in the art.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and thecorresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

-   -   10 a, 10 b Housing    -   12 Insulation space    -   14 a, 14 b Heating unit    -   16 a, 16 b Heat transfer element    -   18 a, 18 b Undulation    -   20 a, 20 b Amplitude    -   22 a, 22 b Contact area    -   26 a, 26 b Protrusion    -   30 a, 30 b Supporting element    -   32 a, 32 b Side element    -   33 Fixing unit    -   34 a Home appliance    -   36 Home appliance door    -   38 Storage space    -   40 a, 40 b Inner liner    -   42 a, 42 b Outer liner    -   44 a, 44 b Side wall    -   46 Bottom wall    -   48 Top wall    -   50 Rear wall    -   52 a, 52 b Door frame    -   54 a, 54 b Second fixing element    -   56 a, 56 b First fixing element    -   58 b Embossed element    -   60 b Recess

1. A home appliance device, comprising: a housing delimiting aninsulation space; a heating unit arranged inside the insulation spaceand insulating foam filling the insulation space; and a heat transferelement arranged inside the insulation space, the heat transfer elementcontacting the heating unit and the housing for transferring heat fromthe heating unit to the housing, the heat transfer element having atleast one undulation.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The home appliance deviceaccording to claim 1, the undulation being at least section-wisemeander-shaped.
 4. The home appliance device according to claim 3, theundulation having an amplitude extending perpendicularly to a mainextension of the heat transfer element.
 5. The home appliance deviceaccording to claim 1, the undulation having an amplitude extendingperpendicularly to a main direction of a heat transfer.
 6. The homeappliance device according to claim 1, the heat transfer element havingat least one contact area with the housing.
 7. The home appliance deviceaccording to claim 1, the housing comprising at least one protrusion,which protrudes into the insulation space, and providing a contact areafor contacting the heat transfer element.
 8. The home appliance deviceaccording to claim 1, the housing being at least partly made of plastic.9. The home appliance device according to claim 1, further comprising asupporting element which supports the housing and which is at leastpartly embodied by the heat transfer element.
 10. The home appliancedevice according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit for fixingthe heat transfer element to the housing.
 11. The home appliance deviceaccording to claim 1, the housing comprising a side element which atleast partly encompasses the heat transfer element.
 12. A homeappliance, in particular a home chiller appliance, comprising at leastone home appliance device according to claim
 1. 13. The home appliancedevice according to claim 1, configured as a home chiller appliancedevice.